"I don’t want to be committed," Sarah said."I’m not insane.I was in control of myself the entire time, and I knew what she was doing.I should go to prison for the rest of my life."
"Okay," Alison said.
It felt like the entire room took in a breath, and when they let it out, the knife dropped from her hand to the floor.
Sarah loosened her grip from Dr.Connor’s shoulder, and he fell forward to his knees before scrambling forward to the feet of Detective Moore.
"Well, do something!"he snapped.
"Oh, get up," she moaned.
Alison felt the smile play at her lips, but she held it back.She could show that side of herself in such a serious situation.
It wasn’t Moore who stepped forward, but a few members of the tactical team, closing in on Sarah, who didn't have any fight left in her.One of them kicked away the knife, and another closed in with his gun pointed at Sarah as the two lowered their rifles and took her arms.They didn't have to tell her to put her hands behind her back; she did that of her own accord, and the handcuffs were quickly put on her.
Another member of the tactical team, under Detective Moore's instruction, took Dr.Connor by the arm and led him from the building.The first order of business for the doctor was a clean change of clothes.
When Sarah was led from the room, Detective Moore didn't immediately follow, opting to remain with Alison.
It had been less than four days, but it felt like weeks since they had been chasing Sarah Hartman.She was one of the most prolific killers Alison had ever brought to justice, if kills over time were to be counted.Four dead in three days.They had saved the fifth from being killed.
"Should there be any punishment?"Moore asked."Not for Sarah, but for anyone else?No, scratch that, Sarah, too.What should her punishment be?Can she just be sent to jail, or—I’m rambling.This is a win, we take the win."
"We take the win," Alison repeated."And we’re thankful that we don't have to decide what comes next.Our part in this is done.Sarah needs help, I know that, but what’ll help her?She was in this facility twice when it was operational, and it didn’t help her.She wanted her brother to go to jail, and it would have been better off if he had.Should she go to jail because that’s what she wants?Because she was right about her brother?She killed four people and almost a fifth.We can't trust her about anything.Not when we don't know what version of herself she is."
"You did well," Moore said."I don’t know if I could have talked her down like that.It was more than just a fractured mind, wasn’t it?"
"Yeah, I think so," Alison said."There’ll be tests, and there’ll have to be some treatment, and maybe she goes to jail, I don't know.I don't know how this place was run back then, but they would have seen a split personality.She didn't have that when she was treated, but her mind fractured at some point, and that grew into what we saw just now.I’m just glad that it’s over."
"Yeah, it’s over," Moore said.
And now, I have nothing to keep my mind off what really concerns me.Where Howard Mills is and why they still haven’t caught him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Two days later
"You should move out of here," Derek said."I know this has been your home for a long time, and it’s a beautiful place, but we deserve a fresh start, you deserve a fresh start."
"They still haven’t found Howard Mills," Alison said.She got up from the sofa and walked over to the window, looking out into the darkness.She had the uncanny feeling that Howard Mills had someone who had made it back to Oakland and was hiding under the cover of night, under the cover of the greenery, and looking back up at her, framed in the window, surrounded by light.
"I know," Derek said, joining her at the window.He placed an arm around her middle."I don't want to put any pressure on you, and I’m waiting for news also, but you can't pause your life anymore."
"Why would I move out of this place?"Alison asked."This is what I know.Do I really want the hassle of moving everything, all for a fresh start?Do I need a fresh start?Do I want a fresh start?"
"You know, for someone who has the greatest ability at seeing into the minds of others, you are doing a great job at missing what I’m saying."He kissed Alison on the side of the head.
She tore her gaze from the window and looked at Derek.
"So," Derek said, "that was me suggesting we get a pace together, and the fresh start is for both of us, you know, together."
"Oh," Alison said.She let out a couple of chuckles."Maybe I’m a little off right now.I still don't know which way is up and which is down."
"No, I’m sorry," Derek said."I know you’re waiting on hearing about Mills, and they’ll have him soon, I know they will.I know I should wait, but I’m sick of waiting, and I know it’s unfair of me to ask you to unpause your life when—"
"No," Alison said."I’m the one who should be apologizing to you.I like the idea.I can't fully get my head around it right now, but I want to talk about it.A fresh start with you sounds really good now.And you’re right, I’ve had my life on pause for too long.Emma wouldn’t want that.I don't think she would.People always talk about the dead in terms of her life, but she would have changed so much in the last twenty years.What would she be like now, and—"
The bell from the panel at the front door halted her ramblings.
